Combined knife and fork



April 9, 1968 A. s. KRAMER ETAL COMBINED KNIFE AND FORK SF M r n 5 was dmn Mm an M 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 13, 1966 April 9, 1968 A. s.KRAMER ETAL COMBINED KNIFE AND FORK 2 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed July 13. 1966 S 4 gm N E V. T NW ISJU n WW I! m% aEEEIWET UnitedStates Patent 3,376,649 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 3,376,640 COMBINED KNIFEAND FORK Alfred S. Kramer, 887 Sheridan Road, Glencoe, Ill. 60022, andMilton J. Sondell, 3200 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 1]]. 60657 Filed July13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,903 6 Claims. (Cl. 30-148) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A combined knife and fork for use by persons having only asingle hand or one which is incapacitated. The handle of the implementcarries power means and mechanism to reciprocate the knife. Means areassociated with the knife to guard the cutting edge thereof to avoidinjury to the person, and such means is arranged for retraction toexpose the cutting edge of the knife when the latter is in use. The forkis adapted to hold the food during cutting and to raise the cut piece tothe mouth.

This invention relates to a power-operated combined knife and fork foruse by persons who are handicapped in the use of one hand, such as wouldresult from congenital deformity, injury, disease or amputation.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an implement asreferred to which is capable of operation by a battery, either a drycell or one which is re-chargable, which is of simple foolproofconstruction, in which the knife and fork parts may be easilydisconnected for cleaning, in which the fork is arranged to hold theedible being sliced during the cutting operation, in which the knife isguarded or retracted to a safe position while the cut piece istransferred to the mouth, which can be used in either hand, which iscomparatively effortless to use and is light in weight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawings,discloses certain preferred forms in which the principles of theinvention may be embodied in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an implement in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear end elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partly in cross section, to illustrate theimplement in working position;

FIG. 6 is a detail in perspective to show certain parts of the bodyassociated with the switch;

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom plan view;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the modification of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 8.

Broadly regarded in one aspect, the invention comprises a body which isshaped for convenient grasping, and which contains motive means, asource of power therefor, e.g. a battery, a fork fixed with respect tothe body, a knife supported on the body and connected to the motivemeans for reciprocation thereby and a retractible guard associated withthe knife in such manner as to be biased to shield the cutting edge whenthe knife is out of use but capable of being shifted from shieldingposition during cutting, in which position the guard serves to hold theedible. The switch for controlling the motive means is desirablyprovided with a button arranged for operation by the thumb, and may havepositive on and off positions or bias means to Open the switch when thebutton is released.

In another aspect the motive means and knife are constructed andarranged so that when the switch is off the knife is automaticallyretracted to a safe position to preclude injury when the cut piece ofthe edible is being transferred to the mouth.

Turning to the drawings there is shown by way of example (FIGS. 1 to 7)an implement comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical body '10including a front portion 11 and a rear portion 12. A battery 14,received in the body, may comprise one or more dry cells of conventionalform or the same may be of the known type which is rechargeable on anA.C. line, having a suitable rectifier associated therewith. The portion12 is a cap which will permit access to the battery. In the case of arechargeable battery the cap will incorporate a jack with which the plugof a line cord may be connected. Obviously the implement may be arrangedfor operation on the usual llO-volt line.

This motive means for reciprocating the knife blade 19 is indicatedgenerally at 21 and may be a solenoid with means to interrupt thecurrent thereto to obtain oscillatory movement thereof at some desiredfrequency and, as will be understood by those in the art, in the case ofan interrupted supply, a restoring spring is employed similar to thespring 131 hereinafter referred to in connection with FIG. 8. The buttend 22 of the blade is engaged with the core 26 of the solenoid. Toenable snug and reliable engagement the butt end 22 may be of resilientmaterial cut out, as at 27-27, to provide a wedging fit. Moreover theportion 28 between the cut outs 2727 may be formed at its inner end witha detent 31 engaged in a depression in the solenoid core 26 whereby theblade may be inserted with a snap action. Thus, following use, the blademay be readily removed for cleaning. Obviously the motive means may takeother forms, e.g. an electric motor driving a crank to which the buttend may be connected, either directly or through an intermediate sleeve,similar to the core 26. In any case the connection will be readilydisruptible in order that the knife may be withdrawn for cleaning.

The blade 33 proper is desirably of the form shown, namely, reduced atits extremity to facilitate starting the cut in a slice of meat or otheredible 35. The edge 36 of the knife may be straight, sawtoothed orscalloped as desired.

The fork 41, shown in its extended position in FIG. 1 and in itsretracted position in FIG. 5, comprises two or more tines 42 formed atthe ends of flat part 44 slidably engaged in grooves 46-46 in a boss 47formed on the exterior of the body 10' (FIG. 6). The part 44 has anactuating pad 51 secured thereto, as by rivets 5252; and the pad 51preferably has a serrated surface, as shown, whereby the same may bemore positively engaged by the thumb. In order to determine the extendedand retracted positions of the fork a pair of dimples 56 and 57 areprovided in the boss 47 and are alternatively engageable by thehemispherical head 58 of the rear one of the rivets 52-52.

In order to allow disassembly of the fork 41 from the boss 47 forcleaning, the same may be Withdrawn from the grooves 4646 by overcomingthe engaging force of the detent means constituted by the head 58 anddimple 57.

Inasmuch as the knife must be idle when the cut portion of food is beingtransferred to the mouth, the switch for the motive means 21 is alsounder the control of the pad 51, and is constituted by novel means nowto be described. The circuit between the battery 11 and motive means 21is interrupted at a pair of conductive studs 6262 (FIG. 6) set into theboss 47 which are adapted to be engaged by a conductive spring member 62affixed to the under side of the fork member 41. Inasmuch as the boss 47is of dielectric material the metal of the fork, and hence the member63, are insulated from the studs 62-42. It will be noted that the springmember 63 terminates rearwardly in a V-sh'ape whereby, when the fork isretracted, this end is introduced between the studs 62-62 to close thecircuit and the knife is reciprocated. Upon extension of the fork foruse the circuit is opened.

There is provision to preclude the knife from injuring the user, whilethe fork holding the cut piece of food is moved to the mouth. This takesthe form of a guard 72 having a U-shaped transverse cross section, thelegs of which constitute cheeks 74-74 arranged to overlie the knifeblade on both sides when the fork is extended for use and to expose thecutting edge when the fork is retracted (FIGS. 1 and The cheeks 74-74are arcuate to glide over the food 35 as the knife is fed for cutting.The guard is supported by a pair of spaced ears 7676 each having a holeto receive a pivot pin 77, in turn carried in holes in the legs of aU-shaped member afiixed to the lower side of the fork. A torsion spring81, employed in conventional manner, biases the guard downwardly with aforce calculated to permit the guard to exert some holding pressure onthe food, but not so :great as to shift the food on the plate.

From the foregoing description it will have become apparent that, byshifting the pad 51 rearwardly with the thumb, the user will retract thefork and close the switch to start the motive means, whereupon the knifewill be reciprocated to slice the food as desired. When the piece hasbeen severed the pad is shifted forwardly to extend the fork, the motivemeans will be switched off, the guard will occupy knife-shieldingposition and the fork employed to transfer the food to the mouth.

Adverting to FIGS. 8, 9 and there is shown a modification in which thefork 141 is fixed to the body 110 but the knife 119 reciprocates.Although, in this embodiment, reciprocation may be imparted by asolenoid the knife is reciprocated by rotary means driving a scotch yokecomprising a slot 91 at the inboard end of the knife wit-h which a pin92 is engaged. The pin is carried eccentrically on a bevel gear 93journalled in the casing 110 and such gear is in mesh with a bevelpinion 94 keyed to the shaft of a driving motor 121. Thus rotation ofthe motor is effective to reciprocate the knife. A suitable switch 90including contacts 88 and 89 is interposed in the circuit connecting themotor and battery. If desired, a slide switch similar to that heretoforedescribed may be employed.

In addition to the reciprocating blade the instant modification mayembody a fixed blade 99 contiguous thereto (FIG. 10). Both blades mayhave a toothed edge or the movable one may be toothed and the fixed onea straight edge, and this straight edge may be blunt. By means of thisarrangement the fixed blade tends to clear a path, so to speak, for themovable blade as the vibration of the movable blade imparts slight, buteffective movement to the fixed blade.

The movable blade is guided at the inboard end by means of 'a matingslot 120 in the front face of the housing 110, which is desirably ametal bushing carried in the material of the housing and, at itsoutboard end, by means of a pin and slot connection 122-123.

Desirably the fixed blade 99, when employed, is formed integrally withthe fork 124 and, in order to lend rigidity to the same an L-shapedconfiguration is preferred (FIG. 10). The butt end of thefixed-blade-fork component is detachably secured in the body 110 by anyconventional means, e.g. a socket, together with releasable latchingmeans. Similarly the movable knife blade may be in twodetachably-secured parts. Thus the parts in contact with the food andmouth may be readily removed for cleaning. To this end the slot v123 maybe of key-hole form in order that the pin 122 may be disconnectedtherefrom when the knife and fork parts have been detached from thehousin-g.

To assure that the movable blade 119 will be in retracted position toclear the fork 124 suitable bias means is provided intermediate theblade and housing, e.g. a tension spring 131, secured at its ends tolugs 132 and 133 on the blade and housing respectively.

From the foregoing it will have become clear that the knife blade 119will cut through the edible for the length of its stroke; the forkmeanwhile holding the edible firmly. The fork is then relocated and thecut continued as desired.

If desired a mercury switch may be inserted in series with the switchcontrolling the motive means. This switch can be so disposed that whenthe implement is at rest in a horizontal position or inclined as itwould be while cutting, the mercury switch is closed but when theimplement is raised and invertedtotransfer the food to the mouth thisadditional switch will be off.

While we have shown particular embodiments of our invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto sincemany modifications may be made and we, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A combined knife and fork comprising a housing, electrically-drivenreciprocating motive means carried by said housing, switch means forcontrolling said motive means, a knife blade, means operativelyconnecting the blade to the motive means for reciprocation thereby,means supporting said blade on said housing for reciproc'ating movement,a fork, means supporting said fork ,on said housing and a retractableguard having a pair of cheeks, said guard being pivotally connected to,said fork, the blade being disposed between saidcheeks whereby the bladeis shielded when the same is idle and, when the knife is in use, theguard is retracted to expose the cutting edge.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are meansbetween the guard and fork to bias the guard to blade-shieldingposition.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said switch meansincludes a pad secured to the fork-supporting means, said pad beingpositioned for digital engagement by the user to actuate the switchmeans and fork jointly.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the switch meanscomprises a fixed contact carried on the housing and a movable contact.carried by the fork-.

supporting means, whereby shifting of the fork to active position opensthe switch.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized inthat said connecting means comprises a socket and said blade has a buttend detachably securable in said socket.

'6. The combination in accordance with claim 2 fur-.

ther characterized in that the guard is of transverse, inverted U-shapedcross section, the legs of which are said spaced cheeks respectivelyadapted, in the active position of the guard, to overlie the blade onboth sides thereof, said cheeks having convex distal edges to bear onthe edible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,134 10/1869 Morries 30-148546,376 9/1895 Barry et al. 30--l48 1,324,565 12/1919 Przybylek 30-l482,753,470 7/1956 Armstrong 30--272 X 2,908,077 10/1959 Bahlmann 30-272(Other references on foliowing page) UNITED 5 6 STATES PATENTS FOREIGNPATENTS Lundquist 30 210 X 109,739 2/1917 Great Britain. Guttmann 30-272THELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner. Hawley 30-210 5 W. FELDMAN,Examiner.

Toth 30272 X G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

